The Residency

View of Rodd Court.

The Rodd - nestled at the foot of the Welsh hills just outside Presteigne, Powys.

With a practice rich in dark, atmospheric images that draw on myths, legends and folklore, I chose to take my time at Rodd Court in late winter. The decision was simple. I wanted it to be atmospheric and as unpopulated as possible. I sought a solitary experience of the area during a time when the trees would be bare, with sharp, bright light and an unobstructed landscape free from summer greenery.

‍When I was awarded a prize from the Sidney Nolan Trust in combination with the Chelsea Arts Club Trust, I had concerns about how I would respond to Nolan’s work during my residency. In many ways, I felt an inappropriate candidate for this award. As a narrative-based artist, I use printmaking and photography, experimenting with audiovisual and body casts to illustrate the themes I am working with. Painting is not part of my process, and Nolan was very much the painter. Yes, he used unusual media, but his command of whatever he was working with produced works full of sun-drenched colour and dynamic brushwork that were as far removed from my practice as I could imagine. I was lost.

Confessing my anxieties to trustee David Ferry RE, he assured me that this was, in fact, the perfect place to be. Magic happens on the edge of fear. Sound words of encouragement.

Anxiety often arises when there is a lack of knowledge or planning. It can prompt a clear look at what is unprepared, what is vague and unknown. I was never going to be one of those resident students who simply turns up with a sketchbook and responds to what is there. That's just not how I tick. So a month or so beforehand, I researched the area's geography, history and local folklore to understand my surroundings. From Neolithic enclosures and Roman hill forts to grasping mermaids, the area is awash with inspiration. I began to relax. Here was somewhere I could work.